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–+ servings
Rows of round heart cookies with pink centers arranged on vibrant pink background

Heart Cookies

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Aliana Recipes
Buttery slice-and-bake Heart Cookies featuring a hidden pink heart center surrounded by tender vanilla sugar cookie dough. These make-ahead treats are perfect for gifting and require no fancy decorating skills.
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Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 2 minutes
Servings:24 cookies
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:American
Calories:160kcal
Cost:$6
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened Room temperature for creaming
  • 1 cup granulated sugar Provides sweetness and structure
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Flavor base
  • 2 large eggs Added one at a time
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour Plus extra for dusting
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder Helps cookies rise slightly
  • ½ teaspoon salt Balances sweetness
  • Red or pink food coloring Gel works best for vibrant color

Equipment

  • 1 Stand mixer or hand mixer For creaming butter
  • 1 Small Heart Cookie Cutter Approx 1.5 inches wide
  • 2 Baking sheets Lined with parchment
  • 1 Rolling Pin For flattening dough
  • 1 Plastic wrap For chilling dough logs

Method
 

  1. Beat the softened butter, sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy. This aeration is crucial for a tender cookie crumb.
  2. Add eggs one at a time, then gradually mix in the whisked dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt). Stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together to avoid toughness.
  3. Set aside two-thirds of the dough for the exterior, and tint the remaining one-third with pink food coloring. Mixing the color thoroughly ensures a uniform heart shape later.
  4. Chill the pink dough, roll it out thick, and cut small hearts; stack them using a drop of water as glue to form a log. Freeze this heart log until solid so it holds its shape.
  5. Press the reserved plain dough around the frozen heart log, rolling it to remove gaps and form a smooth cylinder. Chill the full log again to firm up for slicing.
  6. Slice the cold log into ¼-inch rounds and bake at 350°F for 12 minutes on lined sheets. The bottoms should be light golden while the tops remain pale.

Nutrition

Serving: 45g (1 cookie)Calories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 85mgPotassium: 30mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 200IUCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.8mg

Notes

Keep the dough cold at every stage; if it gets sticky, pop it back in the freezer for 10 minutes. Use a tiny amount of water to glue the hearts together, as too much will create gaps in the log.